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Immunohistochemical localization of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in in situ and invasive duct breast carcinomas

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Abstract

Bcl-2 and Bax proteins are coded by a family of genes that take part in the manteinance of the balance between cell proliferation rate and programmed cell death in multicellular organisms. TheBax gene acts as promoter of cell death by opposing the death protector effect of theBcl-2 gene. Expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins has been investigated in 58 cases of duct carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and duct invasive and invasive lobular carcinomas (IC) of the breast. While both proteins were expressed at the same time in normal and benign epithelium, different staining patterns were observed according to the degree of differentiation of the neoplastic epithelium. In well-differentiated DCIS and grade I IC there was a predominance of Bcl-2 protein staining. Grade II lesions co-expressed both proteins. Poorly differentiated DCIS displayed a predominantly Bax protein staining pattern. Therefore, it appears that Bax protein expression, especially in DCIS, relates to more aggressive neoplasms while Bcl-2 protein expression is associated with less aggressive malignant lesions.

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Author notes

  1. Vincenzo Eusebi

    Present address: Sezione di Anatomia, Istologia e Citologia Patologica, “M. Malpighi”, Ospedale Bellaria, Via Altura 3, I-40139, Bologna, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, S.B. Onkoloji Hastanesi, Ankara, Turkey

    Nilgun Kapucuoglu

  2. Department of Radiology and Anatomic Pathology, University of Bologna, Italy

    Luisa Losi & Vincenzo Eusebi

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  1. Nilgun Kapucuoglu
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  2. Luisa Losi
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  3. Vincenzo Eusebi
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Kapucuoglu, N., Losi, L. & Eusebi, V. Immunohistochemical localization of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in in situ and invasive duct breast carcinomas. Virchows Archiv 430, 17–22 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01008011

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01008011

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